Distortion free image capture mirror assembly

ABSTRACT

A distortion free image capture mirror assembly, and more particularly one which can be associated with side view mirrors for use by drivers on all type of vehicles. The distortion free image capture mirror assembly includes a support or housing, a background mirror; image channeling horizontal surfaces in the form of an image channeling awning disposed above said background mirror; and an image channeling sill mounted below said background mirror. In addition, side beams to the right and left sides of the background mirror are provided. The two horizontal surfaces will serve to eliminate distracting background view and direct or channel the image from the critical blind spot area with a clear non-distorted view toward the driver.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The object of this invention is to provide for a distortion free image capture mirror assembly, and more particularly one which can be associated with side view mirrors for use by drivers on all type of vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many drivers have had a close call at the “Blind Spot ”, the area where cars or other vehicles are not typically visible in a rear-view mirror or a side view mirror. My prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,594 shows an approach for dealing with this problem. Other prior art is set forth in the foregoing patent. However, when the various designs of the prior art are implements they tend to have distracting background views, and fail to channel the image from the critical blind spot area with a clear non-distorted view towards the driver.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An important object of this invention is to provide the driver with a greater degree of safety.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for viewing the blind spot which is simple and inexpensive to implement.

My invention is an image capture mirror assembly which can assume almost any shapes imaginable: Rectangle, Circle, Triangle, Elliptic, Crescent, Parabolic, Tear drop, Egg-shape, Spatulate, Ovate, Oblanceolate, etc.

A regular plain mirror made from glass, plexiglass, acrylic or other material with reflecting surface will served as the background. Image channeling flaps are placed horizontally above and below the surface of the background mirror, the upper flap hereinafter being referred to as an awning, and the lower flap being referred to as a sill. In addition, two smaller side support beams may be positioned vertically, one on the left-side and one on the right-side. The surrounding edges and the surface area of the awnings, sills and/or beams can be covered or replaced with the following: light reflectors, glow-in-the dark materials, or reflecting prisma-stripe etc.

These two horizontal surfaces and two side beams will serve to eliminate distracting background view and direct or channel the image from the critical blind spot area with a clear non-distorted view toward the driver.

The image channeling awning, sill, and/or beam can be augmented with bright colors inside and around the edges. They can be made with non-reflecting light weight materials such as plastic, rubber, tile, aluminum, durable cardboard, light metal etc.

The objects set forth above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred modes of the present invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention.

FIG. 1B shows a second embodiment of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention.

FIG. 1C shows a third embodiment of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention.

FIG. 1D shows a fourth embodiment of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B shows side and top views, respectively, of a first mounting assembly supporting the third embodiment adjacent a typical side view mirror of an automobile.

FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of the first mounting assembly carrying an embodiment of this invention similar to that shown in FIG. 1B, but without the beam at the apex of the triangles.

FIG. 2D shows a top view of the second mounting assembly carrying a fifth embodiment of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention, this embodiment having the semi-heart shaped awning and sill of FIGS. 1C and 1D, but not having the swivel posts.

FIG. 2E shows a top view of the modified second mounting assembly carrying a sixth embodiment of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention, this embodiment having a semi-circular shaped awning and sill.

FIG. 2F shows a top view of the modified second mounting assembly carrying a seventh embodiment of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention, this embodiment having a rectangular shaped awning and sill.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show this invention carried by a side view mirror, this invention being above the side view mirror in FIG. 3A and below in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3C is a view of this invention associated with a motorcycle mirror.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A semi-heart shape configuration of the distortion free image capture mirror assembly of this invention is shown in FIG. 1A. This assembly 20 is provided with a background mirror 15, which is a regular plain mirror made from glass, plexiglass, acrylic or other material with a reflecting surface. The light ray lines 55, 56, 57, which indicate the direction of the light traveling from the blind spot area, get reflected by the background mirror 15 and then exit toward the driver eyes 13. A panoramic view of the blind spot is therefore achieved. The image rays can enter at any angles and likewise get reflected by the background mirror 15. On top of the background mirror 15 is an image channeling awning 11 and at the bottom is an image channeling sill 12. On the right side of the mirror 15 is a beam 16 and on the left side is a beam 17. The surfaces of the image channeling awning 11, image channeling sill 12, and beams 16 and 17 can be a glass fabrication, or it can be replaced with light weight materials such as plastic, rubber, aluminum, tile, durable cardboard, light metal etc. These surfaces will serve to eliminate distracting background view and direct or channel image from the critical blind spot area toward the driver. The shape of image channeling awning 11 and sill 12 can assume an infinite numbers of forms ranging from rectangle, triangle, circle, ovate, oblanceolate etc., limited only by the imagination. The bright color inside and around the edges can be employed with reflecting or non-reflecting material. In future design, the image channeling structures 11, 12, 16, and 17 can be provided from light or laser sources with adjustable brightness or intensity or bright color with thick liquid substance, or paint materials, that's contained or sealed inside a glass, plastic or clear materials housing unit.

FIG. 1B is shown an alternate embodiment of a configuration which will also operate according to FIG. 1A. There is shown a shelter box with a triangular shape of image capture mirror unit 10 including background mirror 15, on top and bottom are the image channeling flaps 11 and 12, on the right and left sides beams 16 and 17, and at the front is apex beam 18. The triangular shelter box unit 10 can have angles ranging from 35° up to and including 70°. The two front surface of triangular shelter box unit 10 can have a combination of angles such one side with 45° and another side with 65° etc. To achieve the optical image from the blind spot area an image would enters from the one-side of the shelter box opening, get reflected from the background mirror 15 and exit the other side of the shelter box. Beams 16 and 17 act as side support beams as well as angles beams and the front apex beam 18 serve to divide the image. The bright colors on beams 16, 17 and 18 serve to eliminate distracting background view and allow the eyes to focus and capture the image instantly. In future designs, beams 16, 17, 18, can be generated from light or laser sources with adjustable brightness or intensity. It will apply to any other shapes besides the triangle mentioned here.

FIG. 1C shows an alternate embodiment of configuration which will operate according to FIG. 1A. Image capture mirror assembly 21 includes a housing 35. On the back of housing is background mirror 15. On the bottom of housing 35 is sill 12, on the right side a beam 16, and on left side a beam 17, all of which are fixed to the housing 35 for example by glue, epoxy or paste. On top is awning 33 which has individual up and down adjustment. Thus, a swivel post 31 is adapted to provide rotational movement with tightening knob 38. Therefore, the image capture mirror unit 21 is designed for mounting near the side view mirror or below the side view mirror, on mid-size vehicles up to and including commercial vehicles.

FIG. 1D shows a another embodiment which will operate according to FIG. 1A. Image capture mirror unit 22 includes a housing 45. On the back of the housing is background mirror 15, and on top is awning 43 which is connected to the housing via a swivel post 48 with tightening knob 47. At the bottom is sill 44 which is connected to the housing via a swivel post 49 and tightening knob 47. As can be seen, both the awning and the sill have individual up and down adjustment. On the right side is a beam 16 and on left side is a beam 17, which beams can be glued, epoxied, or pasted to the housing 45. Image capture mirror unit 22 is designed to be employed in all positions, such as up, down, front, left, right, inside and outside of all type of vehicles.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show side and top views of an image capture mirror assembly 21 on top of a typical side view mirror 6, the assembly including a housing 35 and, on the back of the housing, a background mirror 15. On top is an image channeling awning 33, and at the bottom is image channeling sill 12. On the left side is a beam 17, which is glued, epoxied, or pasted to the housing 35. Not shown is a right beam. On the rear of the housing is a support plate 64, and on top is tightening knob 38. In the middle of support plate 64 is ball joint 61, and screws 68, which are connected to auxiliary arm attachment unit 66, which has two ball joint holding plates 67, two sliding plates 62, and two bolts 65 for locking position the plates 62. A further ball joint 61 is at the bottom, and is connected to an inverted J shaped clamp 59, with two screws 69 serving as the tightening mechanism. This style is ideal for thick or thin areas of metal panel on the door of a vehicle. This method of attachment is from the inside of the vehicles.

FIG. 2C shows the triangle configuration of the image capture mirror 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 b carried by an auxiliary arm attachment unit 66, and inverted J shaped clamp 59. This assembly will mount on a vehicle in the same manner at the assembly shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 2D shows the semi-heart shape configuration of image capture mirror 40, similar to the designs shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D and which will operate in the same manner. This mirror assembly has a housing 72 connected via ball joint 71 and screws 73 to a telescoped arm attachment unit 76, with the locking pin 78 and the tightening knob 74 in the middle for lock in position, and bolts 75 is connected between telescoped arm unit 76 and J shaped clamp 59.

FIG. 2E shows a semi-circle configuration of image capture mirror 50, which will operated according to FIG. 1A. On the back of housing 72 is ball joint 71 and screws 73, which connect to telescoped arm attachment unit 76 with the locking pin 78, which operate according FIG. 2D. A clip on attachment unit 79, including bolts 75 and screws 77, and C-shaped clips 80 which have a rubber pad or soft material which contacts the vehicle body. This method of attachment is preferred where there is little or no metal area of anchoring. This attachment is from the outside of the vehicles.

FIG. 2*F shows a rectangular configuration of an image capture mirror 60, which will operate according to FIG. 1 and a telescoped arm attachment unit 76, which will operate according to FIG. 2E.

FIG. 2C to FIG. 2F show just some of the possible design shapes of this invention. The auxiliary attachment unit shown above are just some of the samples and many other styles of attachment units can be incorporated or employed with this invention.

FIG. 3A shows a typical side view mirror 6 and on top is image capture mirror unit 20 assembly inside the mirror cover 7 both contained separately within a suitable frame or housing 9. The housing 9 is conventionally coupled to an arm or bracket, to the mirror cover 7, which in turn is coupled to both side of the vehicle, the housing 9 is adjustable in all direction and hence can be tilted up or down or side ways as is known.

FIG. 3B shows an alternate embodiment of configuration, which will operate according to FIG. 3A. An image capture mirror unit 21 is position at bottom of the side view mirror 6.

FIG. 3C shows an alternate embodiment of configuration, which will operate according to FIG. 3A. An image capture mirror unit 22 is position on top of side view mirror of a motorcycle 6.

As can be seen from the above, the mirror will provide a better image of the blind spot. In addition, the “awning” will prevent the accumulation of snow or sleet on the mirror.

While a preferred form of this invention has been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In this regard, the term “means for” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future. 

1. A distortion free image capture mirror which may be used with an automotive side view mirror; said mirror comprising: a background mirror; an image channeling awning disposed above said background mirror; and an image channeling sill mounted below said background mirror.
 2. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a housing which supports the background mirror, the image channeling awning, and the image channeling sill.
 3. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 1 where one of the image channeling awning and image channeling sill are adjustable.
 4. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 1 where both the image channeling awning and the image channeling sill are adjustable.
 5. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 1 where both the image channeling awning and the image channeling sill are triangular.
 6. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 1 where both the image channeling awning and the image channeling sill are semi-heart shaped.
 7. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 1 where both the image channeling awning and the image channeling sill are semi-circular.
 8. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 2 wherein side beams to the right and left sides of the background mirror are provided.
 9. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 8 where both the image channeling awning and the image channeling sill are triangular.
 10. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 9 wherein a further beam is provided, the beam extending from the apex of the triangular awning to the apex of the sill.
 11. The distortion free image capture mirror as set forth in claim 1 where both the image channeling awning and the image channeling sill are rectangular. 